What is wrong with Audiophiles?


Well, many issues. The pursuit after uber-expensive interconnects, speaker cables, power conditioners, power cables can be rediculous. Not to mention Audiophiles who paint the outer sides of their CD's with a green marker. A few days ago I visited a local hi-fi exhibition in Israel. Two of the most impressive rooms where the YG Acoustics with an all NAGRA amplification and the Focal room. The speaker cables in the first room cost $70,000. That was also the cost of the speaker cable in the Focal room. One could buy a BMW or a Merc AMG or a Porsche for that much money. Does this make sense to you? And, lest I forget, I have an Audiophile neighbor in the building where I live. I offered him to borrow a CD of an Israeli singer that I admire. How is the quality of the recording, he asked. "average", I answered. "No, I can't listen to average recordings", he replied. I call that "Audiophilia neurosis". 
yuvalg9

Showing 1 response by clearthink


atdavid
"With the $70K audio cable, there is no verified evidence that it provides superior audio, and hence most of the price is "jewellery".

This is one of the grandest, boldest, most illogical arguments ever made in this esteemed audio forum. Having already claimed "there is no verified evidence," our contributor then feels entitled, justified, and safe is pronouncing one of his Special Conclusions: " Most of the price is jewelry." Nonsense!

There is actually substantial, significant, abundant, evidence regarding the performance and sonic characteristics of this cable but it’s not the type of evidence atdavid can grasp or digest his style is to assess all evidence unilaterally, e.g. "This evidence here is repeatable and verifiable; that evidence over there is unscientific" so of course he alone decides what is "valid" and what is not.

Of course nothing stops atdavid from collecting, assessing, and analyzing his own evidence and then presenting it to the forum for review, and discussion but if he were to do aactually do that then his position hear as a Determiner of Truth would be lessened and diminished!

Repeatable! Verifiable! Testable! This is his refrain and all he’ll say if you don’t meet his demands or requirements is something like "Oh it’s fine if you want to waste you’re money just don’t make claims about how it sounds unless you want me to attempt one of my public humiliations against you here!"